dunham



t e e h S N e e h S 2 M A H N U D L C. m. d o M o m PIPE WRENGH.

Patented July 2, 1895.

lllllu Pi INVENTOH W/TNESSES:

(No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. L. DUNHAM.

PIPE WRENCH.

- mis/12,012. 4 Patented Ju1yz,1 af95.

W/TNESSES.' NVENTOH l ATTORNEY.

NiTnD STATES PATENT. OFFICE,

CHARLES L. DUNHAM, OF OENTREVIEW, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO COCHRANC. STOVER, OF SAMEPLACE.

PIPE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,012, dated July 2,1895. Application filed April 19, 1895. Serial No. 546,438- (No model.)

To ctl whom, 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. DUNHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Centreview, in the county of Monroe and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe Tongs or Wrenches;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of tongs or wrenches w-hich areespecially adapted for use upon pipes and similar` articles.

My invention consists in certain improvements upon the pipe-tongsembodied in the patent granted to W. Orumbie January 11,

In the construction of that class of pipetongs in which the block-die orchangeable toothis secured upon the inner face of one of the jawsadjacent to the curved recess in which the pipe is secured, and isadapted to have its edge catch against the side of the pipe theblock-die is liable to breakage and displacement when it is simply heldin posif tion by a set-screw passing through the blockdie and into thejaw, all the strain being on the set-screw, so that with the heavystrainl usual in the use of"devices of this character the block dies orteeth thus secured are liable to break off. Furthermore, in thisconstruction and arrangement the dies are not Well adapted to besuccessively reused after they are dulled. When the edges of the die ortooth are dulled, they could not be ground and practically used again`for the reason that, owing to the xed threaded set-screw construction,the nen-"edges would not comeinto proper position for operation.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction andarrangement in which the die will be effectively and securely retainedin position, which will enable the grinding and reuse of the die severaltimes, which Will obviate the disadvantages and breakage above setforth, and which Will be durable, convenient, eective, and thoroughlyeiicient.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side View of a pipe-tongs embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the 'dieremoved.

same. Fig. 3 isa detail perspective View ot' the jaw carrying theblockdie or tooth. Fig. e is a detail transverse sectional View taken throughsaid jaw and the die. Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional viewtaken through said jaw and the die. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective viewof the end of the jaw with the Fig. is a detail perspective View of thespring-actuated retaining-pin mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail perspectiveview of the block die or tooth. Fig. 9 is a detail plan View of the jawwith the block-die and retaining-pin removed.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the operating-lever, to which ispivotally connected the jaw C, the latter beingpivoted at its outer endto the jaw B, having-a recess h in its inner end, which recessv isengaged by` the end projection g of the lever A. The jaws are providedin their opposite inner faces with curved or segmental recesses in whichthe pipe is adapted to be clasped, and the main construction of all theforegoing parts may be substantiallythe same as in the Orumbie patent.In the latter patent the block die or tooth D, Which is formed by arectangular steel plate adapted to have all its edges successively used,was simply secured against the flatinner face of the jaw B by means of asingle set-screw passing through the block-die into the said jaw.

In my invention the jaw B is provided at its inner face and near itsrear end with inwardly-projecting side flanges BB, said iianges or earsbeing arranged at each side the at die-seat b adjacent to the curved orsemicircular recess b. The flat die-seat b terminates at its rear end ina transverse shoulder b2. Projecting inwardly from theinwardly-projecting side fianges or ears B B', at the top thereof andtransversely with relation to the jaw, are provided lugs or arms b3,said arms thus projecting over the die-seat b and being adapted toreceive the block die or tooth D between the arms. and the die-seat, theunder faces b4 of saidfarms being preferably formed flat aud smooth tocorrespond to the top face of the die.

In the jaw B, centrally with relation tothe die-seat b, is provided anopening or perforation b5 extending entirely through the jaw and ofsmaller diameter at its lower portion roo bs, thus providing an interiorannular shoulder 29T. Within this opening b5 is set a springactuatedcylindrical retaining-pin E, having its bottom end e normally projectingfrom the bottom of the opening b5 and its top end e projecting above thedie-seat b, as shown. This retaining-pin is provided near its top end ewith a circumferential annular fiange or enlargement e2, correspondingto they interior annular shoulder E7 of the opening b5 and accommodatedin the larger upper part of said opening. The annular flange e2 pref-`erablycorresponds in diameter to the larger upper part of the openingb5. lgetween the shoulder 57 and the circumferential ange e2 is provideda coiled spring F upon the cylindrical pin E, which spring exerts itsten-- sion to retain the pin in normal position for securing thedie-plate D in place.

The block die or tooth D is formed of a fiat steel plate and is adaptedto rest' against the transverse shoulder b2, when it is secured inposition upon the die-seat L and under the overhanging lugs or arms b3,by means of the spring-actuated retaining-pin E. In thel center of thedie is provided a smooth opening or perforation d, corresponding tothepro.- jecting top end e of the pin E and adapted to receive the same.This opening d may be slightly larger in diameter than the end e', ifdesired. The die is reversible, so that all its edges can besuccessively used, and by reason of this improved construction and ar'-rangement the edges of the die maybe ground and the die effectivelyreused a number of times without affecting its secure retention inposition or its proper projection and operati-on against the side of thepipe when the latter is clasped in the curved orsegmental recesses ofthe j-aws.

The spring-actuated cylindrical retainingpin E and the actuating-springF may be readily removed from the opening b5, in which they are normallyhoused, for purposes of sul)- stitution or repair, if desired.

The operation and advantages of my improve-ments will be readilyunderstood by those skilled inthe art to which it appertains, thegeneral operation of the tongs being` substantially the same as in theconstruction einbodied in the above-mentioned patent.

It is obvious that the projecting top. end of the retaining-pin Willsecurely hold the diein position, and by reason of the construction andarrangement herein described and illustra-ted breakage or displacementof the die is obviated and the strain is distributed and evenly met. Thedie or tooth is effectively and securely retained in operative positionj and inclosed or braced by the projecting side flanges or ears B andthe transverse shoulder b2, in conjunction with the retaining-pin andthe projecting lugs or arms b3. To remove the die from its seat, it isonly necessarry to pull down the spring-actuated retaining-pin E (bymeans of its projecting bottom end e) until the top end e is within theopening b5, when the die can be slipped out from between the side angesor ears B. The die may be as readily set into position, and when the pinE is released it is returned to normal position by the tension of thespring F.

The annular flange e2 of the spring-actuated pin E bears against theunder face of the die D and serves to bind the latterin place under andagainst the overhanging lugs or arms b3 b3.

-Having -thus described my invention, l claim and desire to secure by'Letters Pat-- entl. A pipe tongs of the class d'escribed,having the jawprovided with the block-die or plate secured in position. by aspring-actuated retaining-pin seated in` the jaw and engaging the die,substantially as andfor tho purpose set forth.

2. A pipe tongsof the class described, having the jaw provided withprojecting lugs or arms overltanging the, die-seat, the removableblock-die or plate set in said. seat under the projecting lugs or armsand provided with the opening orperforation, and a spring-actuatedretaining-pin seated in an opening in the jaw and projecting upwardlytherefrom and having its top end engaging the opening in the die,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A pipe tongs of the class described, having the jaw provided with theinwardly-projecting flanges or ears at the sides of the dieseat,- saidtlangesy or ears having the lugs or arms projecting over the die-seat,the blockdie or plate set, in its seat, between the projecting sideflanges or ears and under the arms, or lugs thereon and having theopening or perforation, theretaining-pin seated in the opening orperforation in the jaw and projecting therefroml into engagement withthe opening in the die, and the actuating spring housed inv the openingin the jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A pipe tongs of the class described, having the jaw provided with thedie-seat and with the projecting lugs or arms overhanging the die-seat,the jaw being provided at the die-seat with an opening or perforationhaving an interior annular shoulder, the block-die or plate adapted tobe set in the die-seat under the overhauging lugs or arms and providedwith the opening or perforation, the retainingpin seated inthe openinginthe jaw and having its top end projecting therefrom and engaging theopening in the die,said pin being provided with a circumferential flangeor shoulder, and a coiled-spring mounted up'on said retaining-pin,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. DUN HAM.

Vitnesses:

FRANK MARLOW, JEROME LITTLE.

IIO

